Escape to the Movies: Special: Bond Girls

[Chipperz]

Ahh Bob, Bob, Bob... This was excellent. Is there any chance that you'll be doing more "verbal essays" (I dunno what else to call them) to go with your Intermissions? I genuinely find them both fascinating.

EDIT - OT - I've always thought of James Bond as the height of boyish escapism, nothing less than saving the world with kickass gadgets and then getting the kickass girl, with the occasional bout of kicking ass. The problem I have with the new ones is more that they have taken this and made it all so... Serious. Even Sean Connery tossed one-liners to enemies like coins to a tramp and had over-the-top bad guys to defeat.

I haven't even bothered with Quantum of Solace, but I bet they never mention S.P.E.C.T.R.E.

 

[Calatar]

Feminists changing their opinions of how progressive the Bond movies are is really a measure of relative progress. What might be considered progressive years ago would now be considered extremely offensive.
Example: It would be "progressive" during the 1800s to say that black people deserved some rights, but they were still inferior to white people. Abraham Lincoln held this view. Today, we consider it to be extremely racist (because it is).
Back then, Bond women appeared to be sexually liberated, and this was relative progress. Today, they are extravagant sex symbols with the purpose of showing off Bond's "power."
Seriously, can you call a woman liberated because she chooses to fight to the death in a gypsy catfight over a guy? Perhaps with some elaborate justification, but it seems far more likely that it is a symbolic show of man's power over women than the other way around.

You make it sound somewhat like a case of "Oh those feminists, always changing their minds..." which really isn't the case. Modern standards changed, because past standards were still insanely degrading towards women.

I don't love the Bond movies, because they are completely ridiculous, in every way. It's not awesome, it's just absurd. The difference between Austin Powers and Bond is that one expects to be taken seriously.

 

[Redratson]

Once again good vid Bob, ty for the review.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

The problem it seems is that Jason Bourne is a better Bond than Bond was. The era of superheroics, or even heroics was blasted into parody with that malignant word of "realism".

As I've said many times, "realism" is a crutch for those who simply can't respond to "fantasy", and as an epitome of fantasy, Bond is left as a plaything for those who simply cannot understand that he was NEVER a real person, just as much a cutout as the girls were.

In making Bond real, like the HD TV's, that he's flawed; and a flawed gem just is a hunk of jewellery.

What Bond needs is an injection of fantasy again; like Firefly, Doctor Who or Battlestar Galatica. Less of the real world, and more of HIS world. Where men are real men, women are real women and small blue...sorry...wrong quote.

Just make Bond into BOND again, shrug off the waves of correctness and send him on his way into the dreamscape of espionage, rather than the uber-dull world of spying.

And the villains. Blofeld was an icon of villany. Le Chiffre looked like a marketing consultant.

BTW, On Jason Bourne, killing off the girl in that was a dick move of massive proportions.

 

[The Middleman]

The problem it seems is that Jason Bourne is a better Bond than Bond was. The era of superheroics, or even heroics was blasted into parody with that malignant word of "realism".

Well Jason Bourne isn't really the same classification of 'Bond', he's more like a Number Six from that British series I forget the name of. Someone who doesn't know who he is, but understands people hate him, to the point where he strikes back. Bond is more of a man who understands what he has to do, even when he looks the most clueless. Sean Connery did well with this specifically in Thunderball, where you never truly knew if Bond understood who was behind all of the trouble, even though towards the end, it was clear that he knew all along.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

You know, I actually had to study this (partially), in A Level. I remember coming across so much of this back then, it was great to see it brought back again.

I agree entirely as well on the point that Daniel Craig is not James Bond. James Bond from the books was a practically superhuman womanising, ultra-slick spy who was actually captured quite nicely by Sean Connery (especially Doctor No). The Bond films evolved to become the ultra campy flicks of Moore, and even Brosnan has an element of that campy humour to them (it's a little darker, but what else was Boris Grishenko doing in Goldeneye?). Whether the film makers like it or not, Bond is not Fleming's Bond anymore, Bond is Connery and Moore and Dalton and Brosnan, and trying to make him realistic and modern just makes him into the tired old anti-hero we see in Jason Bourne.

Either give me back my James Bond, or let him stay where he belongs, in the sixties.

 

[sunpop]

Without a doubt Connery is the best but I always saw Moore as a close second. I have not however watched James Bond in years except for short bits on t.v because I find the new ones boring these days and the old ones my brother only has on vhs but no vcr. I do enjoy a good game of 007 for the n64 which is also the best James Bond game.

 

[GameGoddess101]

Hey, this is cool. Are we um... still getting a review on friday??? *nervous smile*

But this just basically cements my hate for feminist bitches. Not feminists (even though they're bad) Feminist bitches. Like PETA, they have a fantastic mission statement but they just go about things all wrong. Its terrible!!

But hey, a little cultural history and half-naked sexy women... I'm down with that.

 

[nonl33t m4st3r]

You make an excellent observation on the impact of Bond's female friends through the ages. I however, disagree on the point of Moore being a better Bond than Brosnan. I might be rose colored glasses, as Brosnan was the first Bond I saw, but I think he played a better Bond.
Sean Connery will always be the first and best.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Well Jason Bourne isn't really the same classification of 'Bond', he's more like a Number Six from that British series I forget the name of.

The Prisoner. Be seeing you.

Someone who doesn't know who he is, but understands people hate him, to the point where he strikes back. Bond is more of a man who understands what he has to do, even when he looks the most clueless. Sean Connery did well with this specifically in Thunderball, where you never truly knew if Bond understood who was behind all of the trouble, even though towards the end, it was clear that he knew all along.

Probably true, but when you look at the fight-scenes in Bourne (and especially the car chases), they are so BOND it's untrue. And so much better than the Bond films did.

But the Bond Girls did something that Megan Fox and her ilk simply don't understand. They were sexy, rather than slutty. They overcame their ridiculous names and you actually cared for them. Each "come hither" look spoke of stopped hearts, rather than the "Here's my cleavage" that's so prominent today.

Ursula Andress still is far sexier, sensual and pulse-racing than Halle Berry's childish stumble.

 

[chaplin]

Wow, your becoming a really good critic. I never thought of how feminism played a large role in the Bond franchise

 

[Ayrav]

Thanks for the video Moviebob. I just want to echo what has already been said; these verbal essays are fantastic, I hope that you will be able to do more of them. Keep up that great work!

 

[BlindMessiah94]

Lot of great history in that, but I would generally have to disagree.
It's a bit ridiculous to think that as times change a franchise that was based upon ideas at the time would survive without changing as well.
It's clear from that vid that Bond Girls started out during the 50's with the whole playboy movement. Of course as a woman's depiction in society changes clinging to ideas of who they are from the 50's is a bit ludicrous. It's been over 50 years. TIME FOR A CHANGE.

I loved most of the modern Bond Girls, but also absolutely hated a lot of them too.
Loved Sophie Marceau, Michelle Yeoh, Eva Green, Olga Kurysomething or other. Hated Halle Berry, Madonna, Denise Richards, etc.
Generally speaking I do find they hit the mark depicting the women Bond seduces nowadays as strong, attractive women who can do anything a man can. But then I see MovieBob's point in that casting crap like Halle Berry and Madonna undermines that very same thing.
I thought Eva Green and Olga Kalishnakovdurdur were very good characters.

Over the years Bond movie's became a caricature of themselves and were becoming increasingly lame to watch. I'm glad they have taken the franchise in a character based direction, as my favourite movies are character based.

Besides, if I want to watch James Bond nail 100 chicks, hunt down an evil villain with a ridiculous name inside a giant volcano launching a rocket into space, I will just watch You Only Live Twice or the other oldies.

I don't want more of the same thank you very much.
There's plenty of that for the nostalgic.

Movie Bob to me, you seem like a fanboy - sorry to say it. Hellbent on ideas of old and unwilling to adapt to the new.

Also I've gotta say whoever does his audio recording needs to learn how to record into a mic properly. Even YZ does better with a $5 mic.

 

[Elf Defiler Korgan]

Liked that quite a bit. Connecting movies to cultural studies is useful. Ah the made jumps and changes in mores and ideals in the West.

 

[Pickard12]

Great video but I would disagree that Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale was simply a 'plain old woman appearing in an action movie.' What elevates Casino Royale from it's predecessors is the fantastic narrative and the relationship between Bond and Vesper which in turn forges Bond into the man he is. It is a shame that this level of quality did not continue through to QoS where the Bond girls returned to throw-away characters.

 

[Aptspire]

Sean Connery IS James Bond.

agreed, my favorite of all

 

[Nomanslander]

Sean Connery IS James Bond.

I think Brosnan was second best.

The funny thing about Brosnan was he acted more like Bond in other movies then he did in the actual movies (After the Sunset, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Tailor of Panama).

They made him too sensitive in the 90s Bond films pretty much because of the reason Bob brought up, and I never liked the films because of that.

Oh and, good job Bob bringing up Roger Moore, totally underrated if you ask me....Roger Moore had a certain charm in his portrayals that made the character his for a while there.

 

[Ghadente]

Excellent, excellent review.

I enjoy the majority of the movie reviews, it comes off as a very honest and open opinion about the topic film. This one in particular i thought was superb. It all just seems to make sense, and couldn't agree more about the rise, fall, and grasp for survival of Bond films.
Oh and Sean Connery definitely my choice for favorite Bond.

 

[Dahemo]

Excellent and entirely accurate summation of the situation with Bond girls, I'm very tired of this whole "Bond has met his match...again" one-upmanship that has progressed throughout the series, Honey Rider is an excellent Bond girl because she was a character in her own right, a naive and charming beach comber caught up in the machinations of a supervillain and the heroism of the superspy sent to stop him. Through in excellent dialogue, a well rounded and believable portrayal by Ursula Andress but crucially a firm placement an important side plot, but a side plot none-the-less, not held true in every Bond but generally a formula for success.

I'm up on this as during my university career my friendship with several feminists was often a source of excellent and insightful debate over dinner. Casually, one friend spat "Bond girl" derisively as the epitome of the kept, subservient female who clings to the strong masculine figure as her only hope of protection, sexual intimacy and liberation from a dull, unsuccessful (and crucially male-free) existence. I countered by pointing to the many Bond girls who as you so rightly say were strong, sexually liberated and drawn from many walks of life, and that this viewpoint was very much a 2000s perspective on an issue of 1960s female empowerment.

I can only take issue with two parts of your video, both of which really are diversions from your main thrust. Firstly, the view you presnt of Bond within the 80s is a very colonial or at least purely American perspective, perhaps McClain and Rambo presented more phyiscal or resonant personas but Bond is an archetype, the action hero who is never all-action. he's more timeless and flexible in this respect, although poor execution can mar this thoroughly. From the British perspective he's the antithesis of the brawny, testosterone-fuelled killing machine, and refreshing for it despite predating them significantly.

My second, and definitely the more trivial of the two nitpicks is this: I'm glad we're all on the Connery train here, the best bond of all, but dear God, Moore? I expected better from you! Moore was distinctive, certainly, but he was an average portrayal in a decidely erratic era of the series. I never liked Moore and he presided over the worst Bond film of all, The Man With The Golden Gun, which is a crime in and of itself. For those interested:

1.Connery
2.Brosnan
3.Dalton
4.Moore
5.Lazenby

Lazenby was the worst by far, although bless him, a male model thrust into a popular role he was thouroughly incapable of achieving, and while On Her Majesty's Secret Service wasn't great, it wasn't too bad either. Connery is the superior and iconic Bond, he is the face of the franchise and forever will be. Brosnan is, for me, the truest Bond in the sense that he encapsualtes the best elements of the character: the charm, the wit, the passion, the humanity and the gauche manner while appearing endlessly capable (although not invincible) and decidely deadly. Yes, Tomorrow Never dies is awful, but it's watchable and he's great in it.

I just like Dalton, in a way, what you've cited as his weakness are perhaps his great strengths in my eyes. His tired, mid Cold-War demeanour, his more realistically romantic attitude fitting better with my Dawson's Creek-centric sex education, and crucially, his relationship with (and loss of) Felix Liter struck home in a difficult period for the franchise. I've covered the last two selections already, and for the omissions, I don't consider the original Casino Royale to be a true Bond, and I'm still deciding on Craig, after Casino Royale he was probably at 3, he's slipped to 4 after Quantum, he'll live and die on that list by the strength of his tenture.

There's my two cents, sorry, pence...

 

[Zedzero]

I've seen a few bonds namely the ones with Sean Conoery and Daneil Craig

I think the summary of Feminism in this is waaaay to simplistic. Feminism has never been a single-minded, unified movement and any contradictions that seem to occur in feminist ideology largely stem from the fact that feminism is as fragmented as any social movement. The ideas that reach a mainstream audience will be those of the movements most vocal members, not necessarily those of the majority. Besides, the 'sexual liberation' of the Bond Girls has been problematic from the beginning, as are most portrayals of women's sexuality in the media. Why are they problematic? Because for the most part, they are portrayals that are crafted to specifically appeal to the stereotypical hetero male. This is largely why many feminists have a problem with the idea of the Bond Girl. The Bond Girl is not about presenting a liberated, healthy role-model for women. She is, rather, a set of instructions on how to best please a man. Even the name 'Bond Girl' suggests a general lack of respect for the authority and autonomy of women; these are adult women, and yet we call them girls. Please do more research next time, Movie Bob.

Thanks. You saved me the time to write a post like this myself.

But since this is a gaming website we'll most likely fall on deaf ears.

I have to disagree with you to some degree, sure they where more "free" sexually back in those times showing that women had their won sexual desires and could decide whether or not that they wanted to have sex and it wasn't up to the men. But in todays socitey from the era of Britteny Spears and onwards this "sexual power" has been abused to the point where women are seen as mere sex objects rather then respectable people.